On Tommy's exoneration

On Tommy's exoneration

From Koran Tempo

The Supreme Court's ruling to exonerate former president Soeharto' son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra in the Goro-Bulog land swap case provides clear evidence that the panel of Supreme Court judges has no conscience.

We all know that the petitioner is a fugitive who has belittled legal apparatuses such as the court, the prosecutor, the police and so forth, something that the panel of Supreme Court judges should have taken into account before granting his request.

Therefore, the panel of Supreme Court judges should be immediately examined to find out what has actually made them pass a ruling to exonerate Tommy, a decision which contradicts the people's sense of justice.

It is still fresh in people's minds how Senior Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, a member of the panel of Supreme Court judges assigned to consider Tommy's appeal to the Supreme Court, was brutally murdered, a heavy blow indeed to law enforcement. Is there any connection between the two cases? If so, there must have been threats behind the present ruling.

Law enforcement institutions should immediately examine thoroughly the reason why the Supreme Court was able to overturn its earlier ruling. Once more, we must not be afraid of upholding the law in this country even if the sky falls in.

WAWAN IRIAWAN

Jakarta